Tony Weaver Jr. shared that he wrote “Weirdo,” a graphic novel memoir about self-love and individuality, as a result of he realized the vanity and confidence points he confronted as a toddler weren’t simply private struggles however institutional ones.
“After I was a young person, even when my dad and mom obtained me psychological well being help, I nonetheless had this detrimental narrative in my head that mentioned, ‘It was a Tony drawback. Tony went to a faculty, Tony obtained bullied, Tony struggled together with his vanity, however then Tony obtained remedy and now Tony’s higher,’” he mentioned. “I assumed it was only a me factor.”
Nonetheless, after working in colleges, Weaver noticed how widespread these challenges had been, particularly for Black kids. “Since I used to be privileged sufficient to make it to the opposite facet of that darkness, it was my duty to make use of my expertise to bless different individuals and help different individuals on their journeys,” he mentioned.
Revealed on September 17, 2024, “Weirdo” has obtained widespread recognition. The e-book has been named a Greatest E book of the 12 months by Individuals Journal, Publishers Weekly, Faculty Library Journal, The New York Public Library, The Chicago Public Library, and Kirkus.
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Weaver mentioned the success of the e-book affirmed his perception within the significance of illustration.
Weaver selected to jot down a graphic novel due to his love for the medium and its effectiveness as a literacy software.
“Not solely do graphic novels hold college students engaged, however additionally they have a better proportion of uncommon vocabulary phrases,” he mentioned. “I do know for a proven fact that I’ve obtained some in there.”
For Weaver, it was simply as essential that “Weirdo” confirmed psychological well being via the lens of a Black youngster.
“Very not often is there a personality of colour, particularly a Black character, that’s navigating this stuff,” he mentioned. “The nuances of what it means to be Black in the USA create a further layer of battle for lots of those psychological well being circumstances.”
He wished each Black and non-Black readers to attach with the character. “When you’re scuffling with psychological well being, you may empathize and relate to somebody that’s completely different from you through that battle,” he mentioned.
“However if you’re Black, you will notice your self represented and know that it’s an issue you may ask for assist with.”
Weaver mentioned “Weirdo 2” would give attention to how standardized testing and flawed intelligence assessments might forestall educators from recognizing college students’ potential.
” ‘Weirdo 1’ is about how the educational system can negatively influence scholar psychological well being,” he mentioned. ” ‘Weirdo 2’ is about how standardized testing and a number of the comparatively inaccurate methods we gauge scholar intelligence could cause you to overlook out on genius.”
He criticized the training system for permitting college students to bear the results of poor choices made by adults.
“Training is among the solely industries the place once you make a mistake, you aren’t the individual that has to hold the error,” he mentioned. “The children are going to be coping with the ramifications of that mistake most likely for the remainder of their tutorial careers.”
The sequel, Weaver defined, would encourage kids to develop a self-image that was not solely outlined by tutorial evaluations.
When requested about his private fashion, Weaver mentioned his clothes decisions mirrored his dedication to taking on house. He’s usually seen carrying glasses, a button-down shirt, a tie, and a cape—a glance that blends skilled polish with superhero aptitude.
“I spent a lot of my life making an attempt to twist up and never be seen,” mentioned Weaver. “Now, in any room I step into, the way in which that I gown, the way in which that I carry myself, is rooted on this concept that I need to be in these rooms. I labored to be right here, and I need to create house for different individuals who won’t be able to be as expressive but.”
Because the founding father of Bizarre Sufficient Productions, Weaver made it his mission to create constructive representations of Black males and different minority teams in media.
His firm, greatest identified for the acclaimed webcomic “The UnCommons,” goals to make use of storytelling to problem stereotypes.
He described the trade as closely relationship-driven, making it troublesome for Black creatives to realize entry.
“I began Bizarre Sufficient after I was 19 years previous, and I used to be at conferences the place I’d meet individuals who had been like, ‘Oh, I gained a grant from so and so. I went to high school with this system supervisor, so I simply referred to as and mentioned, Hey, right here’s what I’m enthusiastic about doing.’ They usually accepted my grant proposal,” mentioned Weaver.
“Whereas for me, if I attempt to name that individual, they’re not going to choose up the telephone as a result of they don’t know who I’m,” Weaver added.
Nonetheless, he credited his success to embracing his distinctive perspective. “Leaning into the issues that make me distinctive—what we name ‘the bizarre sufficient approach’—has allowed me to chart my very own path.”
Weaver turned down a job at NBC Common to pursue his firm full-time, a call that originally frightened his mom. Nonetheless, he secured an $80,000 funding from the Echoing Inexperienced Basis simply earlier than commencement.
Weaver mentioned his enterprise success got here from having a transparent understanding of his values and aggressive benefits.
“I take advantage of the identical inventive thoughts that I apply to my writing to seek out inventive methods to current our applications, merchandise, and digital instruments,” he mentioned.
Weaver’s strategy targeted on scaling influence. “It’s cool to serve a thousand children. What does it appear to be to serve one million?”
When requested about his proudest achievement, Weaver pointed to “Weirdo” and the second his mom noticed its success.
“That look on my mother’s face—that she’s not essentially frightened anymore,” he mentioned. “She’s at all times going to fret a bit of bit, however this type of feeling of approval and understanding that, ‘Okay. He did it. Wild gamble. Oh, my goodness. Wild gamble. However he managed to determine it out.’”
Since its launch, he had visited over 45 colleges and obtained letters and art work from college students who related together with his story. “I get to see in real-time the influence this story is having,” he mentioned. “That’s one thing I worth greater than any award or title.”
Though based mostly in Atlanta, Weaver expressed plans to develop his work to Los Angeles. He had already collaborated with Crete Academy, a faculty for college kids experiencing homelessness, and hoped to embark on a California tour like his East Coast tour.
“We had been having conversations with individuals in L.A., after which the fires occurred,” he mentioned. Nonetheless, he remained dedicated to bringing his message to new audiences. “It’s my aim to do this in Los Angeles.”
In 2018, Weaver turned the primary comedian e-book author to be named to Forbes’ 30 Beneath 30 checklist.
His recognition as a frontrunner in media and social influence has continued to develop, however for him, the true reward lies within the lives he touches.
“So long as we honor what our values are,” he mentioned, “the trail to create the influence that we need to make will current itself.”
